lei

¹

[ ley, ley-ee ]

noun

, plural leis.

1. (in the Hawaiian Islands) a wreath of flowers, leaves, etc., for the neck or head.

lei

²

[ ley ]

noun

1. plural of leu.

lei

¹

/ leɪ /

noun

1. (in Hawaii) a garland of flowers, worn around the neck

lei

²

/ leɪ /

noun

1. the plural of leu

Word History and Origins

Origin of lei¹

Borrowed into English from Hawaiian around 1835–45

Word History and Origins

Origin of lei¹

from Hawaiian

Example Sentences

In return he promised monthly top-up payments of 5,000 Moldovan lei to pensioners, or about £200.

From BBC

Nearly midway into the third quarter, it looked like the highlight of Foster’s day might be walking off the team bus with a collection of colorful leis draped around his neck.

From Los Angeles Times

Five hundred feet outside the Lahaina burn zone, the tourists receive their leis.

From Los Angeles Times

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he once said on a broadcast, tie-dyed T-shirt on, a Hawaiian lei around his neck.

From Seattle Times

This colorful crowd — the Bowl looks like a pastel kaleidoscope of leis and Hawaiian shirts — is on its feet and loving it.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• garland
• pot
• vase
• wreath